serves 6

ingredients

6 medium slices white bread 75g/3oz ghee or butter 150g/5oz granulated sugar 3 green cardamom pods, husks removed

600ml/1pt milk

175ml/6fl oz evaporated milk

1⁄2 teaspoon saffron threads

• Cut the bread slices into quarters. Heat the ghee or butter in a large heavy frying pan. Add the bread slices and fry, turning once, until golden brown.

• Put the fried bread in the bottom of a heatproof dish and set aside.

• To make a syrup, put the sugar, 300ml/10fl oz water and cardamom seeds in a saucepan. Bring to the boil over a medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar has dissolved. Boil until the syrup thickens. Pour the syrup over the fried bread.

• Put the milk, evaporated milk and saffron in a separate saucepan, and bring to the boil over a low heat. Simmer until it has halved in volume. Pour the mixture over the syrup-coated bread. Serve warm.